Interstate S-1B2 ARCTIC TERN accident near Talkeetna River, Alaska, September 8, 1993
On September 8, 1993, a Interstate S-1B2 ARCTIC TERN, registered N64AT, was destroyed in an accident near Talkeetna River, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TAKEOFF LOCATION, THE EXCESS WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE, THE INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE ADD-ON TANK BY THE MANUFACTURER AFFECTING THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE, AND THE INADEQUATE CERTIFICATION/APPROVAL OF THE TANK BY THE FAA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1993
- Place
- Talkeetna River, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Interstate S-1B2 ARCTIC TERN S-1B2 ARCT · all S-1B2 ARCTIC TERNs on the register
- Registration
- N64AT · registry record · serial 1015
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT IN COMMAND ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF WITH OVERLOADED AIRPLANE FROM ROUGH RIVERBAR STRIP AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. AIRPLANE EQUIPPED WITH MANUFACTURER'S AFTER-MARKET 32 GALLON BELLY TANK WHICH ALLOWED AIRCRAFT GROSS WEIGHT TO EXCEED MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED WEIGHT ANYTIME 10 GALLONS OF FUEL AS WELL AS MINIMUM CREW WERE ABOARD. THE AIRCRAFT WOULD ALWAYS BE OVER GROSS WEIGHT WHENEVER THE REAR SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. NO CAUTION BY MANUFACTURER OR FAA REGARDING LIMITATIONS ON USE OF PASSENGER SEAT WITH BELLY FUEL. AIRCRAFT WAS CERTIFIED AS 2 PLACE AIRPLANE BY FAA ALTHOUGH ADDITION OF ANY BELLY FUEL WOULD EXCEED MAXIMUM TAKEOFF WEIGHT WITH BOTH SEATS OCCUPIED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 10 in the last 30 days; 125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: ANC Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N64AT the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.